The win enabled the New Zealanders to join an illustrious line-up comprising of European champions Spain, South American champions Brazil, reigning world champions Italy, Asian champions Iraq, CONCACAF champions United States, African champions Egypt and hosts South Africa who will compete in the FIFAConfederations Cup from 14 June to 28 June 2009.
The tournament, dubbed the ‘festival of champions' as it pits the championsof the six FIFA Confederations, the reigning world champions and thenext FIFA World Cup hosts against each other, will take place at Johannesburg's Ellis Park, Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Tshwane/Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld and Mangaung/Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium next year as a precursor to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“We would like to congratulate
New Zealand on reaching the FIFA Confederations Cup and on joining a tournament that will feature some of the most illustrious players in world football today.
South Africa has a long sporting history with
New Zealand, largely due to the epic clashes between our Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks on the rugby field. Now, however, we look forward to welcoming the All Whites on our football fields,” said the OC's Chief Executive Officer Dr Danny Jordaan.
In addition to topping the Oceania qualifying group,
New Zealand – popularly known as the All Whites – have now also earned the right to play off against the side that finishes fifth in the Asian preliminaries for a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in
South Africa. The two-legged playoff takes place on 14 November 2009 and 21 November 2009.
Dr Jordaan had a word of caution for the New Zealanders, though, as they take their place among world football's elite – albeit for a fortnight during the FIFA Confederations Cup.
“The All Whites won't have it easy, as they will potentially be up against the likes of
Spain's Fernando Torres and
Francesc Fabregas,
Italy's Andrea Pirlo and Luca Toni or
Brazil's Kaka and Robinho. The Confederations Cup is really shaping up as a mouthwatering appetiser for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and we look forward to giving the world a taste of what's to come. All the games will take place at existing stadia, which are well on their way to being upgraded in good time ahead of next year's tournament and preparations for FIFA's first major event on South African soil are going extremely well indeed,” said Dr Jordaan.
The Official Draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre in
Johannesburg on November 2009, with the tickets sale for the tournamentstarting the following day. For further information on the FIFA Confederations Cup, the match schedule and interesting stories on and around the participating teams please go to the official website www.FIFA.com/confederationscup.
